Muslim extremists heckled soldiers and clashed with counter protesters during a homecoming parade for British troops recently back from a tour in Afghanistan. The 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment marched down Barking, Essex, streets to shouts of “murderers, murderers, murderers” and “British troops go to hell” from members of Muslims Against the Crusades (MAC). Mac members also displayed banners with the slogans “Butchers return” and “British soldiers are cowards.” 

A Mac group member used a megaphone to call British soldiers “butchers” and “despots,” and shouted “We love death the way you love life.”

“I’m here for the army and the British forces. The protesters are entitled to their opinion but they are taking it out on the wrong people. … This is not the reception these boys and girls deserve. But it is democracy in action.”—Dee McEvoy, spectator

The MAC protesters were confronted by the anti Islam English Defense League whose members shouted “scum” and “Muslim bombers off our streets.” Other counter protesters, purportedly BNP British National Party supporters, threw sausages and chanted “Allah, Allah, who the f*** is Allah?“ 

As soon as the soldiers passed by, the rival groups clashed in the middle of the street, but police quickly separated them and escorted the MAC protesters to the subway. Many people who traveled to Barking to pay their respects to the troops were disgusted by the protesters and said that they should have been banned from attending the parade.

“I think the protesters are filth. I’m here to support our troops. They put their lives on the line for us.”—Emily Penson-Clark, spectator

Muslim extremists had also protested soldiers from the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment returning from a tour of duty in Iraq. The protesters screamed “baby killers” and “rapists” at the soldiers during the homecoming parade in Luton, Bedfordshire, in March 2009. 

For additional information on the homecoming parade in Barking, Essex, see Muslim protesters brand war heroes ‘murderers’ as homecoming parade turns violent by Daily Mail Reporter and Into the jaws of hate: Soldiers’ parade marred by Muslim extremists and far-Right by Andrew Levy.